Essential Oils to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Written by anastasia blackwood

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Using essential oils can be a cheap, natural and effective way to repel mosquitoes. (Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images)

It is easy to make a completely natural, safe and powerful mosquito repellent using essential oils. Mosquitoes are a common pest during the warmer months of the year. Essential oils are created by distilling plants leaves and stems and have been used for centuries to create insect repellents. Essential oils are an environmentally safe way to repel mosquitoes from yourself, children and pets, making it more enjoyable for your family to enjoy the outdoors during the warm, summer months. When using essential oils, avoid spraying or applying them around your eyes and mouth.

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Citronella

Citronella oil is a common natural oil used to repel mosquitoes. The smell of citronella is offensive to mosquitoes and they will avoid it. Citronella oil must be reapplied about every 45 to 60 minutes, since this oil looses a lot of its effectiveness after an hour. Citronella oil should be applied in a spray. To apply as a spray it must be mixed with water, 50/50, and poured into a spray bottle. Avoid spraying the mixture into your eyes or mouth. Citronella oil should not be used in any form on children younger than 2.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil has been used as a mosquito repellent for centuries. Along with its repellent qualities, it is also useful to medicate the symptoms from a mosquito bite. It alleviates the inflammation and the itching. Lavender oil can be applied like perfume, a dab of pure oil on the wrists and neck. It can also be mixed 50/50 with water and put into a spray bottle. Then it can be sprayed over your body, avoiding your eyes and mouth. Lavender oil is safe for children and pregnant women. Lavender oil also can be mixed with eucalyptus oil to create a more powerful mosquito repellent.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is a great natural mosquito repellent. It works well, has a pleasant smell and is easy on your skin. A solution made from 30 per cent eucalyptus oil and 70 per cent water provides about two hours of protection. If added to commercial DEET insect repellent, the eucalyptus oil will extend its life to between five and six hours. It can be applied like a perfume, dabbing pure eucalyptus oil to the wrists and neck. Pure eucalyptus oil is not as greasy as other essential oils making it a good choice.

Cedarwood Oil

Mixing cedarwood oil with other essential oils, such as citronella or eucalyptus oil, creates a powerful mosquito repellent. The cedarwood will add about an hour to the life of other essential oil mosquito repellents. Cedarwood oil can safely be used on pets, children and around the house. In higher concentrations it can be used to keep mosquitoes away from certain areas for hours at a time -- it can be applied to chairs or tables for an evening sitting outside. Cedarwood oil doesn't just repel mosquitoes -- it kills them. If they touch or inhale the cedarwood mixture, they die immediately.